Chess Puzzle #X01Qj — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1904 · Advanced · equality, fork, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rooks d1/f5; bishop e3; pawns b2/b3/c2/f2/g6. Black: king g8; queen c6; rook c8; bishop e7; knight e6; pawn g7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qd7 — queen d3→d7. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen c6→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
  3. Best move: Ra8+ — rook c8→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Ba7 (bishop e3→a7).
  4. Best move: Qxf5 — queen c2→f5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/4b1p1/2q1n1P1/5R2/8/1P1QB3/1PP2P2/1K1R4 w - - 3 39

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.